Egi Adyatama, Friski Riana, Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP) admits that they are not worried about the findings reported by pollster Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) Denny JA on the ineffectiveness of campaigning religious sentiments.

PPP assures that they have prepared programs in the field of economy and education. "PPP is not leaving behind issues on Islam and the interest of Muslims, but we are linking it to the economic and education sector," said PPP secretary general Arsul Sani to Tempo today.

Arsul claims that the party is not mobilizing issues meant to emotionally attract the Indonesian Muslim community, which he said is reflected in their decision to back Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin in the upcoming presidential election.

"In the programs offered by Jokowi-Ma'ruf for example, we can see programs such as establishing micro-charitable banks, honoring Islamic boarding school (Pesantren) teachers, and religious-based education system," he said.

A previous report by pollster LSI Denny JA said that Islamic political parties tend to be active in non-religious issues to gain votes. They gave an example of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) that is used to using religious sentiments but are now using the economic issue as their main argument upon winning the 2019 general elections.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1181647/ppp-and-the-poll-on-ineffective-religious-sentiment-campaign